Salisbury River Park
Arts Programme

The Salisbury River Park Arts Programme was developed as an integral part of the wider Salisbury River Park flood risk mitigation project, a strategic initiative led by the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council, and Salisbury City Council. The arts programme aimed to reconnect the city with its river, share its stories, and deliver meaningful community engagement through site-specific, socially and environmentally sustainable artworks.

Delivered over a four year period, its key achievements include: 

•    Working with professional artists – Fred Fieber, Zac Newham, Jane Edden, Tech Moon, Francesca McLean, Karen Whimhurst, Sue Martin - to create permanent and experiential works inspired by the River Avon’s biodiversity.

•    Extensive community engagement through artist-led workshops, consultation and events, fostering ownership and civic pride; a highlight being the River Park colour palette devised by artist Zac Newham in collaboration with students from South Wilts Grammar School, which became an important touchstone for the programme as a whole.

•    Achieving high participation and reach with over 13,700 people engaged through exhibitions, workshops, guided walks and scoots, sound walks, performances and other creative activities.

•    Strategic partnerships with local cultural organisations and major events such as the Salisbury International Arts Festival and Art Care, the creative health service at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, as well as schools and community groups, embedded the programme within Salisbury’s broader arts ecology.

 

The programme leaves a lasting impact through permanent artworks, co-created resources such as the River Park colour palette, legacy pieces including the Becoming River musical compositions and sound walk, a family focused treasure trail and an artwork map. It demonstrates how public art can enrich infrastructure projects, delivering cultural, social, and environmental benefits that align with best practice in placemaking.

In this film, the Environment Agency highlights the vital role the arts programme plays in enriching the River Park.

You can download the treasure trail by Zac Newham, the artwork map by Francesca McLean and the musical compositions by Karen Wimhurst here.

Studio Response worked with Creative Producer Clare Christopher on the implementation of the Salisbury River Park Public Art Programme.

Photography by Michael Illas.